Writing Tip Wednesday – Settings and Series
JA Huss
If you’re just coming in on this series and haven’t yet seen the previous videos they are linked below.
Beginnings
Middles and Scenes
Hooks and Endings
Pov/Characters
Settings/Series
Pacing/Suspense
Exposition/Dialogue
Sex Scenes
Literary Devices
Editing/Blurbs
As always, if you don’t want to remember to check back every two weeks to watch the new video, you can always follow my blog using the form below and I’ll send the post right to your email. And if you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment and I’ll answer your question as soon as I see it.
About JA Huss
JA Huss is the New York Times Bestselling author of 321 and has been on the USA Today Bestseller’s list 21 times in the past four years. She writes characters with heart, plots with twists, and perfect endings.
Her books have sold millions of copies all over the world, the audio version of her semi-autobiographical book, Eighteen, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award and an Audie Award in 2016 and 2017 respectively, her audiobook, Mr. Perfect, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award in 2017, and her audiobook, Taking Turns, was nominated for an Audie Award in 2018.
Johnathan McClain is her first (and only) writing partner and even though they are worlds apart in just about every way imaginable, it works.
She lives on a ranch in Central Colorado with her family.
You are an awesome writer. Thanks for doing these videos.
Julie – I’ve been following this series as well as the Marketing Strategy series and I’m not sure what I enjoy more… the info or your no-bull**** way of presenting. You’re a very talented author. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Not sure Julie why you say that you would plot the individual books in a series first. Shouldn’t you have the grand question (series arc) plotted out first and then move into the individual book plots so that you can be assured that you are doing the individual plots with the grand question in mind? Again, really great and provoking video. I’ve been waiting for this one. Thank you.
If I said it that way, I didn’t mean it. lol. You should definitely have the series plot in mind before you start. At least a very general outline.
Thanks again for a wonderful and informative video. Fingers crossed on buying the house! This gave me some great ideas for things I want to try in the future. Can’t wait for the next one!!!
Julie I ‘ve been learning quite a lot from your videos –even go back and replay/listen to them while doing the day job. I have a question about plotting books for a long series. I haven’t sat down and plotted the series on paper, but I know the three points. As I started to write the first book, my original plan seemed too rushed and 5 books is turning out to be more. My question is … the first plot point in each book, does it need to be that turn the MC life upside down type of problem?
I’m writing it in a continuous fashion, even serial. I’m on my second book and found I’m off on the %, so I’m moving some things to meet the sweet spots of the points.(my genre is sweet YA romance)
I am amazed at the time and effort you’re putting into these videos. Thank you so much for doing these.
Yes. In the Plot Whisperer, she calls it a move from the “old” world to the “new” world. That can mean many different things. It can be a state of mind or something big and catastrophic. It all depends on what type of story you’re writing.
If the story is character driven … would there be one huge plot point one/catalyst or could there be several incidents like you talk about in the types of endings? Character driven plot has several crisis in the ending, solving them along the way. For romance do you use one thing or several things? [I’m trying to fix a problem and maybe I’m grasping at straws, and yes I’m still learning]
Thanks for your insight.
You’re the bomb. I’m so thrilled that you’ve done these videos, in the meantime while writing a billion fantastic series’!